Monday, March 18, 2024

March 18 - “Great God, you know”


We had a busy morning. Sam stayed home from church because she still didn’t feel very well after her treatment. Cailyn was with us as we took off, though. 


First we stopped off at Seaside to drop off our contribution of food for dinner on the grounds. Then we hopped back in the car and went over to the Jamaica Beach RV Park. They have a brief praise service on Sunday mornings, and I was filling in for the guy who has been doing a teaching for them. It was good to see the folks I haven’t seen in a while, and it’s always good to have another chance to share the gospel. 


We left after the service in kind of a hurry, both because it was beginning to rain and so that we could get back over to Seaside. After Kel’s teaching from Joshua, we enjoyed dinner on the grounds and hung out for the meeting detailing all the needs for the big Easter Sunrise Service. Gonna be another great one. Great God, you know. 


At home we got Sam something to eat, then took Cailyn back up to Santa Fe. We stayed for a while and chatted with Nathan and April. She was about to make some fresh bread. Wish we could have stayed longer. 


Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭ says, In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.


Father, thanks for you for being in control. Been hanging onto that truth this week. Amen. 

Sunday, March 17, 2024

March 17 - “Transcending iPhones”


We were back to our old ways to kick the morning off. We walked two miles again. I hesitate to say that it’s getting any easier to actually do, but it is getting easier to say OK when Chris brings it up. 


Lunch was an easy one to put together. We both had leftovers from our Mexican food dinner the night before. I think Chris still has another meal left of hers, too. 


One highlight of our morning was our weekly phone chat with Josh. We were able to listen in as he and Luke and AnnaGrace dug up a bush in their front yard. They eventually dug up another one and then replanted them in the back yard. A lady in their church is a landscape designer, and she made several recommendations for them. And of course that means more chores for Josh. Oh, and he asked us to send them ten or twenty of our favorite Zak pictures for his senior slide show coming up. He said Zak was “pre-iPhone” so they didn’t have a lot to choose from. Of course Nani ‘s camera has always transcended iPhones. 


The other highlight of the day followed a different phone call. Cailyn asked if she could come over to spend the night and go with us to church today. Well, of course. We ate some ice cream, watched University of Houston lose, and played some Uzzle and Kings in the Corner. Cailyn worked on a cross stitch project, then she got out her stash of material and 

Chris helped her get started on another sewing project. Busy night. 


Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭28‬ ‭ says, “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”


Father, thank you for another chance to spend an evening with Cailyn. Gotta live that girl. Amen. 

Saturday, March 16, 2024

March 16 - “Boogering up the Booger-villa Bush”


We had a big threat of rain yesterday in the morning. Even escalated into a chance for severe thunderstorms, which never did come to pass. At least not during the day. We decided not to chance a walk, though. Besides, Chris wanted to get some work done in the yard. So I joined her. Sort of. 


She got down and dirty in the flower beds. I just grabbed the clippers and attacked the evil booger-villa bush. It was in pretty bad shape since the freeze, so with Chris’ blessing I finally got to lop that thorn-laden thing way down. There was some fresh growth way down at the bottom, so it will make a comeback. 


Last night we were part of a bit of a surprise birthday celebration. We met the Allen’s for supper. First  time we have been to Tortugas since they moved to a new location. It was pretty good food. And we especially enjoyed the time with Dennis and Pedrameh. The staff even sang Happy Birthday to Dennis. Woohoo!


Our ride home was a bit dicey. A pretty severe thunderstorm was blowing. The rain was blowing sideways, and it was cold as well as wet. We made it home with no problems,though. 


Psalm‬ ‭143‬:‭8‬ says, Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.


Father, please watch over Dennis and  Pedrameh as they grow closer to each other and to you. Amen. 

Friday, March 15, 2024

March 15 - “Big 12”


Sam had a doctor appointment yesterday, so they left around 9:45 with plans to be gone pretty much all day. I used the time to go on a two-mile walk. 


That walk was followed by a day of Big 12 tournament basketball. Texas Tech started off by really putting it to BYU. Next was University of Houston vs TCU. Same result. Houston won by … a lot. 


To my double surprise … first, Kel stopped by on his way out to the church. He and I chatted and kept an eye on the basketball game. Surprise number two was that Chris and Sam pulled up right around 2:00. Sure thought they would take longer. 


The night basketball games started with Iowa State vs Kansas State. Couldn’t watch all of that one, though. Home group started right in the middle of it. Found out later that Iowa State advanced rather easily. 


After home group the final game of the night (for me, anyway) began, Baylor vs. Cincinnati. We enjoyed a cup of ice cream before Sam went on to bed. I think Baylor’s three-point shooters had all gone to bed, too. Terrible start. But they eventually woke up. Baylor erased the early deficit and took the lead. Cincy just wouldn’t quite go away, though. I wouldn’t call it a nail-biter, but it felt close all the way. Baylor did end up with the win. 


Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬ says, But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.


Father, thanks for another chance to hang out with the home group. Amen. 

Thursday, March 14, 2024

March 14 - “Sing it again!”


Chris wasn’t feeling too good to start the day, so no big walk. I did do all of my stretching exercises, though. That’s gotta be worth something, right?


When Sam texted to let us know she was up and ready for breakfast, Chris grabbed her cereal and I followed her in with a resounding (if I do say so myself) chorus of “Happy Birthday to my much older sister! Happy Birthday to you!”  Sam loved the singing, of course. Well, either that or the Astros schedule we handed her so she would never be in the dark regarding the rapidly approaching season. Great way for her to start her actual birthday day. 


For lunch we stuck a candle in a brownie and sang “Happy Birthday” again. We only put one candle in there. We couldn’t fit any more than that. She is, after all, much older than me. At the table I gave her a schedule for the rest of the Spring training games. The ones being televised were marked with yellow markers. Go Astros!


In the afternoon we had a few errands to run, even though it meant venturing into our Spring Breaker-infested fair city. Fortunately, we just had to get one prescription for Chris at Randall’s. While there we filled up the car with gas. Then we stopped at Walmart to get Sam a prescription and me some bananas. Yum. 


Last night we finished out Sam’s birthday day by taking her to dinner at Shrimp n Stuff Downtown. She had a big bowl of some kind of creamy, shrimpy goodness. Chris had grilled shrimp tacos. I had popcorn shrimp. All were full and happy when we left, with at least one more dinner’s worth of leftovers. Not that we didn’t like it. They just pile on the grub. Thats some good stuff. 


Before we left we gave Sam some Astros pins to adorn whatever outfit she happened to be wearing on game day. And, yes, I sang to her again. She heard my melodious tune three or four times throughout the day.  And she even asked for it again at bedtime. I stuck to abbreviated version that time. 


Happy birthday, Sam. 


John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ says, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.“


Father, thank you again for the chance to be Sam’s adopted baby brother. Gotta love that lady. Amen. 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

March 13 - “Stella”


Walked our two miles again yesterday. And when we got back, Chris headed right out to work in a flowerbed. I followed with the clippers to do some trimming. I even managed to get two dead bushes pulled up with little to no back exertion. As it turned out, the original flowerbed didn’t get the extensive work it needed, but we did get a good start on the bushes. 


Oh. And in between time, I managed to switch some files over to the new computer. I think it’s in a place where I can actually use it … finally. I even discovered some new things. My favorite so far is one where the computer will read what I write back to me. Yep. Out loud. And in case you’re wondering … my new computer … is a girl. I’m pretty sure her name is Stella. We have a lot to talk about now that I know she can talk back. See you soon, Stella. 


Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ says, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.


Father, thanks for my new computer friend. Help me get to know her better. Amen. 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

March 12 - “A new one”


Heart doctor appointment at 9 am. No. Not Chris. This one was for me. Just a follow-up for the visit six months ago to see if the arterial plaque buildup was blocking anything (sounds like I know what I’m talking about, doesn’t it?). No real change other than some medication adjustments. “Come back and see me in six months.”


Next we went to Best Buy to look at computers. To our surprise, the one we were looking at online was on sale in the store. With help from a consummate computer nerd, we grabbed it. 


I played at getting it set up when we got back home. Most of what I did went fairly smoothly. Even got the Word program going. However, the cloud stuff is messed up. What is supposed to be accessible from the old computer in the cloud looks completely different on the new one. No idea what I did wrong. I’ll take another look today, but the Geek Squad may be getting a call. 


Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭ says, And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.“


Father, thanks for you that Nathan is doing so well post op. Please keep him on the straight and narrow of following doctor’s orders. Amen.